Memories grow sweeter with time

'Vysenera?'

A knock sounds on her door, as Dany comes walking in. Vysenera stands before her vanity, clutching something in her hands, a sad smile on her lips.

'What is that?' Daenerys asks, as she stands next to her niece, who finally looks up. 'A pin Manaerys always wore.'

The Dragonqueen looks at the pin in the form of a dragon, resting in Vysenera's hands. 'She left it here for safekeeping, you know? She gave it to me to guard because she was scared she would lose it.'

Daenerys smiles and nods. 'Than you should wear it, as a tribute to Manaerys. You should pin it in the bun, you know, like the hairstyle you did when we went over the wall?'

Vysenera closes her eyes as she remembers Manaerys excitement.

'Are you sure?' Vysenera raises an eyebrow. Manaerys nods, and Vysenera has to admit she is not used to seeing her sister without her long hair. Two braids start from her sister's temples towards a big braided bun that lies in her neck.

'Such a style suits you too. It is different from the usual long ponytail or braid, right?' Manaerys jokes as she takes her pin out of her hair. 'Can you keep it? I am scared I will lose it. You can give it back to me when we get back.'

Vysenera thinks about how her sister never returned.

'NO!' she snaps, as Dany takes a step back. 'I am sorry, it...' 'Too soon?' Dany asks gently as Vysenera nods. 'It reminds me of when we went over the wall. Maybe later but not, not now.'

'Than you can just leave your hair lose or put it in a long braid. But put the pin on. It will feel like Manaerys is with us.'

Vysenera turns to her niece, a sad but warm smile apparent on her face.

Dany is all she has left now. And though they have had their differences, she is all she has left.

The memory of Manaerys is slowly growing sweeter with time. The raw pain and sadness is still there, but the happy memories she has of her sister and Viserion are slowly taking over, dulling the pain and sadness a little bit.

She hopes it will be that way for her son too.

'Are you ready to go, My Princess?' Ser Jorah asks, Vysenera nodding and stepping out. She nods at Jon Snow, who throws her a sad smile.

She can see it now, in his eyes. He has also lost people close to him, and somewhere, it makes her heart go out to him.

Vysenera is remarcably nicer to him afterwards.

When Jon asks Daenerys later, as they prepare to go to King's Landing, a wistful smile is all that showes itself.

'She thought you were an overconfident man. A man that thought he had a right to be King in the North, and she was angry at what it would mean to my claim. But she understands now.'

Daenerys whispers, clutching one of Manaerys' rings and putting it on her finger. 'Understand what?' Jon asks, as both the khaleesi and the former Night commander look at her niece, who is standing at the edge of the ship, looking out over the setting sun.

'What it is like to lose someone. She has recognized the emotions she feels in you. And it makes her wonder how you do it, go on, when you lose everything that is dear to you.'

Jon shakes his head, nodding at the khaleesi and joining her older sister at the edge of the ship. The silence that falls over them is comfortable, and it is not broken for awhile.

'How do you do it?' Vysenera eventually breaks the silence, Jon throwing her a sad look. 'Go on and keep on living?' Vysenera's gaze crosses that of the King in the North, who gives her a sympathetic smile.

'It does not get easier.' He offers. 'But time makes the raw edges dull and the memories grow sweeter with time. And one day...' He says, squeezing Vysenera's shoulder as Rhaegal flies by them, screeching sadly at his mother.

'You will remember the good and bad things and be thankful for the time you had with them. But it takes time. A lot of it.'

Vysenera sniffs, closing her eyes and nodding. 'Daenerys told me you bent the knee. I underestimated you, Jon Snow.'

The Northener shruggs but Vysenera nods at him. 'I will do everything I can, to help you to stop the Night King. I promise.'